By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Commercial truck crossings of the Del Rio International Bridge increased sharply in September, posting gains Mayor Al Arreola called “impressive” during the most recent meeting of the city’s international bridge board.
The board met Oct. 28, with Arreola, who serves as the board’s chair in his capacity as mayor, and board members Mario Bosquez, Frank Mendoza and Ruben Nino attending. A fifth seat on the board remains vacant.
After Arreola made opening remarks, he recognized International Bridge Superintendent Jose L. Castillo, who went over bridge crossing reports from the month of September.
Castillo began with the vehicle crossing analysis of autos crossing the bridge.
Castillo said, “For the month of September, autos and (pickup) trucks saw a decrease of 5,263 vehicles. Commercial traffic increased by 1,411 vehicles.”
Castillo then walked bridge board members through his monthly traffic report for the international bridge, comparing the September numbers with those posted in September 2025.
Castillo said, “For the month of September, cars and pickups saw a decrease of 3.57 percent, and commercial traffic increased by 25.47 percent. Bikes had an increase of 25.08 percent, and pedestrian traffic had an increase of 6.64 percent.”
Castillo next reviewed the international bridge monthly total bank deposits.
Castillo said, “For the month of September, toll crossing income was $553,721.68. Pre-paid in-house, $50,018; web payments, $169,429; wire transfers, $13,7890; and a total bank deposit for the month of September of $786,948.68.”
After Castillo finished his reports, Arreola said, “The most impressive thing is the (increase in) commercial vehicle traffic, the 25.47 percent.”
The increase in commercial traffic crossing the international bridge in September continues a trend that began in midsummer, according to reports released by the city. Commercial traffic over the bridge increased 10.10 percent in June as compared to the same month in 2025.
Commercial bridge traffic increased by 8.51 percent in July compared to commercial traffic in July 2025 and 15.93 percent in August compared to August 2025, bridge records show.
“We’re getting some traffic from Eagle Pass,” Castillo noted during the discussion in the Oct. 28 meeting.
Arreola and Castillo spent some time speaking about a new comandante at the port of entry on the Ciudad Acuña side of the bridge and the possibility of a meeting between bridge officials and members of the bridge board with the new official at the Ciudad Acuña port.
Mendoza asked Castillo, “I keep bringing it up to you about the traffic on the bridge and the inspections. I was over there yesterday and the day before. There were 18-wheelers all the way across the bridge, and I was thinking to myself, ‘I hope they’re empty trucks, not full trucks,’ because I’m thinking of the constant weight and the vibration, but you said they check (the bridge) every two years?”
Castillo replied, “Yes, sir.”
Mendoza said, “My concern is all that weight coming across at one time, as a precaution, as a safety thing.”
Castillo added, “The good news is, and correct me if I’m wrong, usually when they (the tractor-trailers) go back, they’re empty, when they go back to Mexico. It’s only when they’re coming over (into the U.S.) that they’re full, but, yes, they do the inspection (of the bridge) every two years.”
Mendoza wondered aloud if it might be possible for Del Rio’s bridge officials to work with the new comandante and possibly suggest to him the opening of more inspection stations on the Ciudad Acuña side of the bridge at times when commercial traffic is particularly heavy “and get that traffic off the bridge, get it moving.”
Mendoza, Arreola, Castillo and Jose Rivera, assistant international bridge superintendent, spent some more time discussing the issue.
At the end of the discussion, Arreola said, “I just want to commend you guys, because lately I’ve been going to Mexico more often than I want to, but . . . I think your employees are terrific. They do a great job so the traffic moves faster. . . I’m not going to complain about it. . . I’m glad that our commercial traffic is increasing. I hope we stay steady on that.
“I understand from entities in Acuña, they’re trying to get more (commercial) traffic to come our route. They went to Saltillo. They went to Allende. They went to Monclova. They went to Nava. They even went as far as Mazatlan, trying to promote this port of entry, and this is where we’re getting a little additional (commercial) traffic coming in.
“On our side, I think we’re steady moving, and as long as our bridge revenue keeps increasing, that is a blessing,” the mayor added.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
